The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Bob M. Spicer (ASN: 054836), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 113th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 9 August 1944, in France. While First Lieutenant Spicer was making a reconnaissance flight in his liaison plane, he was attacked by fourteen enemy fighter planes. First Lieutenant Spicer immediately sent his plane into a dive through a hail of enemy tracers to gain the protection of friendly anti-aircraft installations which opened fire on the enemy aircraft. He continued to fly at extremely low altitude until the enemy planes disappeared and then resumed his important mission despite a warning that the enemy planes were still in the vicinity. Approximately twenty minutes later the enemy planes returned, but were again foiled by First Lieutenant Spicer’s skillful evasive tactics. The gallantry shown by First Lieutenant Spicer in his willingness to continue his vital observation in the face of attack by heavily armed aircraft is deserving of highest praise. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by First Lieutenant Spicer, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.